Avengers 2 to film in the UK

'The Avengers 2' is due to start shooting at Pinewood-Shepperton studios in the UK in early 2014

'The Avengers 2' is due to start shooting in early 2014.

Production on the comic-book-hero-packed sequel to 'Avengers Assemble' will begin at Pinewood-Shepperton studios in the UK later this year, with shooting due to take place early next year ahead of a 2015 release, according to ScreenDaily.com

The film's plot and cast have not been released, but the movie will be written and directed by Josh Whedon, who helmed the first instalment.

Returning stars from the first film could include Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Chris Evans as Captain America.

Hemsworth has admitted he worries whether it will be possible for the sequel to top the first film, which grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide.

He said: "Jesus, I don't think anything will ever come close... Probably 'Avengers 2', but it will be pretty hard to hit that again. It's almost as if I've been ruined for the rest of my career regarding box-office expectations."

Meanwhile, Sam Rockwell has also expressed an interest in bringing his 'Iron Man 2' character, weapons manufacturer Justin Hammer, into the second Avengers film.

He said: "Renner's a good friend of mine, and I know [Mark] Ruffalo, I know Scarlett. It would be fun to play with all those guys. That would be a blast."

Ultron, an artificial intelligence created by Tony Stark (Downey Jr) to keep the peace, goes rogue and decides to kill off the Avengers. Barely logical but impressively entertaining superhero fun; Johansson and Olsen are central to the action and Whedon's script is strong, snappy and irreverent, but it doesn't have much…